Can you be happy for others?

Let’s talk about a quiet leadership test that shows up more often than we admit:

Can you genuinely celebrate the success of others?

When a colleague gets promoted…

When a peer is recognized…

When someone on your team earns the spotlight…

What’s your first reaction?

If it’s anything less than authentic support, it’s worth paying attention—not with judgment, but with curiosity. Because here’s the truth:

Your response says far more about your leadership than it does about their success.

It’s human to feel a twinge of comparison or even disappointment. But strong leaders don’t stop there. They do the deeper work.

They choose to:

* Acknowledge the emotion without being driven by it

* Lead with generosity instead of scarcity

* Publicly celebrate the wins of others

* Take pride in the growth and success of their team

Especially when it comes to your own people—their success is part of your legacy. If someone on your team is thriving, advancing, or being recognized, that’s not a threat to your leadership. It’s evidence of it.

Great leaders understand: The spotlight doesn’t need to stay on them to prove their value.

So, the next time someone around you wins, ask yourself:

“Am I competing—or am I contributing to a culture where success multiplies?”

Because the leaders who rise the highest are the ones who are fully committed to lifting others along the way.